World
Israel has crossed a huge diplomatic red line with Qatar strike
A lot has changed in Qatar in just 24 hours.
Israel brought its war with Hamas to the streets of Doha and people can’t quite believe it.
The sound of explosions on Tuesday afternoon in a residential neighbourhood has shattered the sense of peace and security that defines life here.
Israel-Hamas latest – Qatar attack puts talks in doubt
An explosion caused by an Israeli airstrike in Doha, Qatar. Pic: AP
It’s also shattered the critical sense of trust needed in these fragile ceasefire talks.
Qatar has played a critical role as an intermediary between Israel and Hamas for the last two years and those diplomatic efforts have been blown apart by this unprecedented attack.
Qatar has reacted with absolute fury and it has shocked and angered other Gulf neighbours, who, like Qatar, stake their reputation on being hubs of regional peace and stability.
Donald Trump is clearly unhappy, too. A strike on Qatar – a key American ally and home to Al Udeid Air Base, the largest US military hub in the Middle East – is seen as a dangerous escalation.
There’s no suggestion that permission was sought by Israel from its own closest ally in Washington.
And there’s little clarity if they were even forewarned by the IDF, as the White House said it learned of the attack from its own military.
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Aftermath of IDF strike on Hamas in heart of Doha
Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, was then tasked with alerting Qatar immediately, but by this point, it was too late.
According to Qatar’s foreign ministry, that call came 10 minutes after the first explosion was heard in Doha.
It’s clear Israel has crossed a huge diplomatic red line here.
Qatar plays a pivotal role on the international stage, punching well above its diplomatic weight for a country of its size.
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Netanyahu says Doha attack targeted ‘terror chiefs’
For decades, it has hosted negotiations in a number of conflicts, providing a safe haven for warring parties to hold talks.
Arguably, far more is achieved in Doha’s many five-star hotels than on any battlefield.
But there was never any sense that you were in danger here.
During the chaotic evacuation of Afghanistan in August 2021, I interviewed the Taliban in Doha.
It was a constructive and civil interview where their international leader presented their position to the world on Sky News.
It was vital information and there was never any sense we were at risk in meeting to talk here.
There is so much at stake in the Israel-Hamas war.
More than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed, children are starving in Gaza and 48 Israeli hostages have not been returned home.
Read more on Sky News:
Attack doesn’t help Israeli hostages
Trump ‘unaware’ of attack
Hamas admits Jerusalem shooting
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What was Israel thinking, carrying out this attack? And was it worth it?
They claim it was a “precise strike”, but none of the Hamas leadership were taken out as they claimed was their objective.
Five lower-ranking officials were killed along with a member of Qatar’s security forces. What it has done is left any hope of ceasefire talks in tatters.
For many, this was a huge miscalculation by Benjamin Netanyahu.